Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-18

willingly, in the first place, because
/ believe it will help the cause l
espoused the greater part OF ny
life, and which love better than
life itself-that OF the laboring
man. Besides this, my conviction
was unfair, unjust and Illegal" AT
1890 o'clock Fischer lay down and
five minutes later his breathing
was so heavy and regular that the
watchers were convinced that he
was sound asleep.
Engel was cheerful and content
ed and at times even witty. Later
at night, when the death watch sat
on the threshold of his cell, scarcely
ever removing his eyes from him,
Engel became reminiscent, and
some stories he told we're not only
interesting but decidedly sensation
al. Once he said; "You people
think perhaps that l am afraid to
60 to the gallows. Disabuse your
minds of that idea at once, for it IS
not true. No man ever faced death
more calmly than [ do now. | am
an Anarchist. l believe in its every
principle, and as it is opposed to
the present order of things what is
more natural than the desire of the
authorities to choke me-"
Shortly after 6 o'clock Fischer
awoke with start. He yawned,
rubbing his eyes and looked up at
the daylight that was now creep
ing in through the sky.lights,
sprang lightly from his cot and
commenced to dress. There was a
sullen look upon his face, and he
only nted when the death-watch
wished i'm a CHEEKY good morning.
Almost at the same moment Engel
arose and Spies awoke. Engel at
once arose from his bunk. Spies,
however, stretched his aims and
Law still for moment as if think
ing. Parsons sat upon the edge OF
his cot and gazed at the opposite
wall of his cell, then he sighed in a
sad and weary way and slowly
arose. Fischer expressed a desire
to wash himself and guarded by
six turkeys no was taken to the
faucet at the farther end of the
cage where for months the con-
demned men have held daily levees
with their friends aud relatives
AS he emerged from the cell he
stood still for moment and look
ed in a strange, inquiring way at
the telegraph instrument which at
that moment was sending his every
movement throughout the country
When be had reached the sta
tionary wsshstand he turned the
faucet with sharp jerk, plunged
his hands into the cold water and
plentifully sprinkled his face and
neck. Then he rubbed himself
briskly with a towel, surveyed him
self in the glass and indicated with
a nod to his keepers that he was
ready to return. AS the key was
turned upon him the door of Spies's
cell was thrown open and the arch
conspirator stepped out. His face
was as pale as death, but there was
look of bravado upon his counte'
nance. and as he stood there with
his head planted firmly upon his
shoulders and his eyes looking
straight into those Of the tall man
before him, it was evident that he
was making strong and deter
mined effort to bear himself brave
lv to the end. He wished the guard
good morning in all easy manner
and then, following Fischer's ex
| ample, walked over to the othel
end of the corridor and washed
himself. After he finished his alb
lutions and had been again locked
up, Engel and Parsons we're brought
out in turn and given an opportu
nifty to cleanse themselves. They
manifested a firmness Of demeanor
but said nothing in response tt
questions of the keepers regarding
how they felt. Parsons, however
asked for a hair brush, and one wal
furnished him from the matron'
quarters. He brushed his hair care
fully, and with the brief remark
"Thats ALL" turned on his heel to
ward his cell. At Z o'clock the foot
which had been ordered was brough
IN and taken to the cells. All hat
ordered beefsteak, coffee, bread an'
butter, but Parsons, who expressed
a desire for raw oysters, fried egg
and milk toast. All then ate heartI
ly. Parsons especially cleared ev
erythlng before him, and asked TO
a plate of fried oysters. They wer
quickly procured and as quickly pu
out of sight. When the prisoner
had finished their last meal a touch
ing letter of farewell signed b,
Fielden and Schwab, part being il
the handwriting of each man, wa
brought down stairs by the bi
turnkey. 1t was first passed in t
Spies, then in turn to Parsons, In
gel and Fischer.
DIR. Gray, the physician of til
Jail, arrived at 1870 o'clock and VII
tied each OF the men. A few mil
utes later Rev. II. W. Bolton, pal
Tor of the First Methodist churcl
arrived at the courtyard door an